Rough road for riders

Transit officials look at higher fares, less service

Matt Sasena waited Friday at Santee Town Center for the 834 bus, which is one of nine routes that Metropolitan Transit System officials are targeting for elimination. (Eduardo Contreras / Union-Tribune)

Matt Sasena waited Friday at Santee Town Center for the 834 bus, which is one of nine routes that Metropolitan Transit System officials are targeting for elimination. (Eduardo Contreras / Union-Tribune)

Bracing for the elimination of state subsidies, San Diego's transit agency is weighing more fare increases and significant cuts in bus and trolley service.

Metropolitan Transit System officials say as many as three out of four bus routes could be affected. Nine routes are likely to be scrubbed, while 59 others are targeted for possible schedule or routing changes.

Trolley service may also be tweaked as MTS prepares for an expected $14 million loss in state transit subsidies – the third major cut in state funds since 2007.

To help fill the budget gap, the agency is also considering fare increases, including raising monthly pass prices. MTS is proposing $10.85 million in service cuts and fare hikes, and plans to make up the difference by selling and leasing property, maintaining a hiring freeze and other measures. The most recent fare hikes took effect Jan. 1.

Paul Jablonski, MTS chief executive officer, said the state is moving to eliminate transit subsidies entirely, even in the face of rising passenger demand. MTS bus ridership swelled to 54.6 million last year, a 6.4 percent jump over the previous 12 months, with high gas prices causing much of the growth.

“It's the dilemma facing transit systems all across the nation,” Jablonski said. “How do you deal with declining revenues, declining subsidies and increased ridership?”

Not by cutting service, said rider Nancy Enriquez. Or by raising fares.

Five days a week, Enriquez, 31, rides Route 833 from El Cajon to the Santee Town Center, then jumps on a Route 834 bus to get to vocational school. She is training to be a medical assistant.

MTS officials say Route 834 is among those likely to be discontinued, perhaps as soon as June.

“They can't do that,” Enriquez said. “I'd have no other way to get there.”

Sixteen-year-old Katlyn Pavlica, also an 834 regular, is not sure how she will commute either. She rides the bus to West Hills High School in Santee each weekday.

She doesn't drive and her family doesn't own a car. “I don't know how I'll be able to get to school,” she said.

Among the other routes targeted for possible elimination: Route 18 in Mission Valley, Route 84 in Point Loma, Route 86 in University City and Route 844 in Poway. Dozens of others face possible schedule or route adjustments.

The early-morning and late-evening schedule of the trolley's Orange line may also be trimmed, and the Blue line between San Ysidro and downtown San Diego may lose late-night Saturday service.

MTS officials say the possible changes were decided based on ridership and revenue on each route.

Jablonski said his agency wants to avoid cuts that would directly affect rush-hour commuters. “We're trying to protect that core level of service and keep it intact,” he said.

Still, the agency estimates that the service cuts and fare hikes – if approved – could affect as many as 8.7 million passengers annually.

MTS officials plan to host 10 open houses starting this week to inform riders about the proposals and to gather comments. The first two will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the University Towne Centre transit center, 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, and the H Street trolley station in Chula Vista.

The MTS board may take action on the service changes as soon as March 12. Any fare increase also would have to be approved by the San Diego Association of Governments.

The State Transit Assistance subsidy – a fund generated through gas taxes – has been a significant and stable source of MTS revenue for years, along with federal grants and fares.

But state lawmakers, struggling to fill widening budget deficits, have increasingly used STA funds to pay for nontransit programs. MTS received nearly $30 million in STA subsidies in 2007; next year the agency doesn't expect to get a dime from STA.

Over the same three years, MTS operating expenses will have grown roughly 20 percent.

The MTS board approved a package of fare hikes and budget cuts in 2007 to deal with dwindling state revenues. One-way fares on many bus routes were increased to $2. The agency also imposed a hiring freeze and reduced employee benefits. Jablonski earns a base salary of $266,200 a year.

As part of the package, one-way fares rose again Jan. 1, to $2.25. The cost of an adult transit pass increased to $68 from $64 a month.

Lori Davidson of Santee is among those forking over $68 to ride the bus and trolley.

She bristled at the idea of paying more, but feels boxed in, noting she doesn't have a car. “I have to do it,” said Davidson, 47. “I don't have a choice.”